The Catholic Church at all levels has signaled its unwillingness to reconsider the closing of St. James the Great Church in Wellesley. Last week, the Archdiocese of Boston took a major (and to outsiders, a convoluted) step toward sale of the property.

From the standpoint of those who have been keeping vigil for many years now, refusing to see the doors shut for the final time on the buildings that served Natick and Wellesley for half a century, this is not the end. They have asked Cardinal Sean O’Malley to suspend or reverse the decision announced on July 14 – a decision would transform the property to “profane but not sordid use.”

The parishioners have been fighting the closing since Oct. 5, 2004, when the parish was “suppressed.” They are still arguing their case in Rome.

In their letter to the cardinal seeking suspension or reversal of his decision, Suzanne Hurley and Paul Hughes express their willingness “to reach a satisfactory resolution of this matter entirely in accordance with the Code of Canon Law and the teachings of our Church.”

Many are probably wondering what a satisfactory resolution would be at this point. It’s hard to imagine that after giving nearly seven years of their lives to this cause, the group will go away quietly, but what are they really hoping for? To save the entire property? Just the church itself? And what does that mean for the town, if it is ultimately successful in its bid to buy the property for recreation purposes? Could it work around the building, or arrange to share it for such uses as administrative space for the schools or a senior center?

It would be painful to see this vigil end with the forcible removal of the parishioners, and so far, there’s been no indication that will happen. But at some point, a resolution does need to come. It would be better for it to happen sooner than later, while the group still has some sympathy in the community, the town is looking forward to the possibility of expanding its recreational options, and the Archdiocese is still working its way through church channels. Although that same procedure probably discourages a direct meeting between the Cardinal and the vigil group, that would be the best way to end this stand-off in a way that accomplishes the goals of both sides and benefits the town as a whole. Nobody needs seven more years of this.